Jacqui's Captive Bred Tortoises

It is vitally important that you use the correct UV/Heat lamp for your tortoise, not only for bone growth & development, to prevent metabolic bone disease, deformities in shell and limb growth but also for the tortoises metabolism to actually work so that it can eat, digest food and take up the nutrients from the food. What follows are extracts relating to a couple of bulbs that are now widely available, to help you source the right one. I recommend the ARCADIA D3 BASKING LAMP available in 100 watt for smaller set ups and 160 watt for larger set ups. These bulbs have been tried, tested and reviewed by the British Chelonia Group and have come out better than all of the others. They are available from www.internetreptile.com

 Arcadia D3 Basking lamp.

It has a wide beam and the UVB is very slow to decay. The bulb is currently available in a 160 Watt which is particularly suitable for large set ups or tortoise houses. It is also available in 100 watt which is better for smaller tortoise tables. both should be hung at 14-18 inches above the tortoise. You can buy the arcadia Basking lamp from a variety of retailers, but if you want a "no nonsence" way of ordering then go to the Internet Reptile Shop. It is contactable on email at sales@internetreptile.com or via the website/or via my LINKS page. The bulbs are priced at around £45-50 plus delivery but do have a 1 year guarantee and are an excellent bulb.

Other popular bulbs are:

Exo Terra Solar Glo 125W & 160W  priced around £40.00

Exo Terra Solar Glo 125W & 160W  priced around £40.00

The Exo Terra Solar Glo Sun Simulating Lamp is the solution to one of the most important aspects of keeping reptiles and amphibians, providing the benefits of natural sunlight. The proper balance of ultraviolet light (including UVA and UVB), visual light and infrared light (heat) in one easy-to-install bulb makes the Exo Terra Solar Glo the choice of professional breeders. The Solar Glo is a full spectrum light with carefully tuned peaks to ensure appetite, activity, brilliant colours, and calcium absorption through Vitamin D3 production, and above all to prevent metabolic bone disease.

·  Optimal levels of UVB, UVA, visual light and heat in one bulb

·  Self-ballasted mercury vapour bulb

·  Provides the benefits of natural sunlight

·  Helps prevent metabolic bone disease

·  Increased UVB penetration distance (+30 cm)

Zoo Med Powersun UV 100W & 160W  priced around £65.00

The PowerSun UV is a high intensity source of UVB, UVA, heat and visible light. Because the PowerSun UV is a self-ballasted bulb it can be used in any ceramic socket that is rated to handle the wattage. The PowerSun UV has nickel-plated threads to ensure that it will not corrode in humid reptile habitats. These lamps project useable UVB radiation greater distances (up to 6 feet) than conventional fluorescent tubes. This makes them ideal for large enclosures and reptiles with high UV demands. The PowerSun UV has all of the benefits of our award winning ReptiSun bulbs with the added benefit of increased intensity, heat and a one year guarantee.

Alternatively, another bulb that I have used lots in the past is the MEGA RAY - This 100w Self Ballasted lamp is a top of the range Par-38 Narrow Flood lamp, it has been tested & proven that this lamp produces simular amounts of UVB to that of natural sunlight, combined with the heat output will create a ideal basking spot for your many applications and habitat designs.

This Reptile UV / Inkaproducts original design provides the necessary UVB, UVA and heat for your UVB-dependent basking reptiles. Our Mega-Ray® European SB 100 watt Narrow Flood Lamp produces more UVB than other true Mercury Vapor Floods, yet is safer for owners! Our design directs the majority of the UVB from the face of the bulb, rather than diffuse it across a 180° angle. 5 Years research has gone into developing this bulb, and reptile UV have conquered and reduced significantly the huge decay rates common in other bulbs. Most other bulbs decay up to 80% in the first few months, the Mega Ray bulbs decay less than 30% over the lifge of the bulb.Mega-Ray® European SB 100-watt narrow-flood all-in-one is a 120-watt SB Par-38 220 volt True Frosted Flood Lamp. A true flood lamp, it will disperse usable UVB in a 30" circumference at a 20" distance.

MINIMUM distance setting of 12" will produce approximately 150-200 microwatts per square centimeter (uW/cm2) of UVB and 900-1200uW/cm2 of UVA.

MAXIMUM distance setting of 20" will produce 50-75 microwatts per square centimeter (uW/cm2) of UVB.
(Distance is measured from lamp face to basking spot or reptile for optimum UVB and heat.)
Warning: Heat This 100-watt self-ballasted bulb also produces heat. It is very important that you monitor the heat at the basking area and adjust the fixture-to-basking area distance accordingly to maintain a proper heat gradient. ALWAYS triple check the temperature at the basking spot - never risk burning your reptile. Warranty This bulb is warranted for 6 months to produce a minimum of 50 microwatts (uW/cm2) at 12" and our initial testing shows even higher readings.

The product will be replaced with the remaining 6 month purchase time covered. Example: after 3 months use, the product fails. You will receive an item with a remaining 3 months on the warranty.

Cost of bulb is £40 plus holder etc.

To order this bulb please contact Inka products  at www.inkaproducts.co.uk or follow the link on the links page.